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Not many people make it to the age of 100, and for those who do, what is considered a life well lived? For some, it’s experiencing all that this world has to offer, for others it’s about leading a successful career, and for people like Evelyn Howell, it’s about giving back to the best of their ability. Howell is a 100-year-old resident of Baptist Retirement Community (BRC), a continuing care retirement community in the Concho Valley, who recently celebrated her birthday on October 13. She decided to call BRC her new home 15 years ago and recently moved into the senior living community’s Sagecrest building. Not wanting to make a big to-do of her 100th birthday, Howell is much more focused on her volunteer work – playing the piano during the Monday morning worship services for fellow residents. She meets with the community’s chaplain, Kevin McSpadden, at 10:30 a.m. and together they provide a lovely half hour of worship.

 

“I learned how to play the piano at the age of six and started volunteering to play during the worship services at our local church in my teens,” said Howell. “My mother is the one who encouraged me to play and arranged for the lessons. Even though she had six kids, she always took the time to sit in on my piano lessons. My sisters learned to play too, and we did many duets together. Growing up on a farm was hard work, but I loved my childhood. I volunteered at our hometown church in Lubbock for 30 years. I truly enjoy volunteering and plan to continue doing so as long as I am able. I have many of the hymns memorized, and fellow residents sing along while I play. My favorite hymn is ‘Amazing Grace,’ and I also really enjoy playing stamps, which is pepped-up religious music. Music has always been therapeutic for me, getting me through tough times and helping me feel better.”

 

Howell lived through major historical events, recalling the depression, the hippie era in the 60s and how polio was rampant before widespread vaccinations were available. Her son was diagnosed with polio at seven and has been paralyzed in one leg ever since. She says he is living a good life though. After 100 years on Earth, her advice is to take the good with the bad and to keep going after the things that make you happy. She advises that people find something they are passionate about and find a way to give back.

 

“Evelyn is an outgoing, kind, humble Christian who I know I can count on to help me with the Sagecrest worship services,” said McSpadden. “Music is an avenue of service for her, and she plays wonderfully for someone who is 100 years old. Sometimes, musical abilities can diminish with age, but Evelyn still plays beautifully and can play everything she sees. I believe she enjoys being involved, and we all appreciate her time and service. It is special to see her play, as it lifts our spirits and hers. She is an inspiration to us all.”

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Seniors in San Angelo are connecting through dance and sharing movement thanks to a special program called “Joy of Movement.” The class launched at Ballet San Angelo on June 27, and was inspired by a program started in Brooklyn, New York, called “Dance for Parkinson’s” (Dance for PD). Ballet San Angelo hosted Dance for PD classes for two years before rebranding the class to include those who don’t have Parkinson’s but still want to participate. The team at Baptist Retirement Community (BRC), a continuing care retirement community in the Concho Valley, learned of the free weekly classes and started arranging transportation for residents to attend one class each week. In addition, they encourage residents who are not able to attend the in-studio class to reenact the class using Ballet San Angelo’s livestream recording.   

 

“This is one of the best programs I have been a part of, and I am fortunate to see firsthand the difference it is making in the lives of those who attend,” said Erin Lane, artistic director for Ballet San Angelo. “The classes offer many benefits, including increased coordination, emotional connection, mental awareness, flexibility, mobility, and balance, to name a few. Our goal is to bring participants joy through dance. We coordinate one-hour exercise routines to the beat of popular music – both new and old. By the end of the classes, attendees are moving more freely and exchange smiles and hugs on their way out. It’s a truly heartwarming and rewarding program to be a part of.”

 

The classes are held on Tuesdays at Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. at Ballet San Angelo (82 Gillis Street). They are free and open to anyone who is interested in learning how movement can improve health and well-being, mental sharpness, and quality of life. Oftentimes, family, grandchildren, caregivers and spouses will join. Many of the participants are men who have shown interest in wanting to understand dance in a different way and invest in the art form.

 

“I have limited mobility, and the classes give me an opportunity to move my body with a group of like-minded individuals who are all supportive of one another as we make wellness a priority,” said Gil Gilstrap, a resident of Baptist Retirement Community. “I noticed that when I participate in Joy of Movement, I have more energy throughout the week, my mood is more positive, and I feel better all-around. The classes are uplifting, and they play a variety of good music from country to Frank Sinatra. My favorite is when we do exercises to Nora Jones. While I can’t stand up for the exercises, the class is designed for people to do them at different physical levels, so I do my exercises in a chair.”

 

Lane also choreographs routines to Ernest Tubb, Billy Joel and Dolly Parton. She likes to keep it classic and occasionally uses ballet music. As the seniors start dancing, a light and airy feeling takes over the room, and everyone’s demeanor changes. Some have attended the classes for nearly two years, sharing stories, making connections and developing friendships.

 

“Joy of Movement allows people to experience the joy and benefits of dance while creatively addressing symptom-specific concerns related to balance, cognition, motor skills, depression and physical confidence,” said Lane. Our goal is for participants to feel empowered by movement, and I believe Gil is a prime example of that. We are thankful that San Angelo Health Foundation funds the program, and we are pleased to offer a livestream each week so people can participate from home. I’ve been told that my students hear songs we danced to in previous classes out in public and they are inclined to dance. The whole idea of connecting movement to music come from neurons that wake up a little bit more when moving to the beat of music.”

 

“We are delighted to offer residents these opportunities to engage with dance and other seniors in San Angelo,” said Aaron Hargett, executive director of Baptist Retirement Community. “Every time we make time to move our bodies and focus on wellness, we are making an investment in ourselves. It is inspiring to seniors from their 60s to their 90s staying active as they age.”

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Wanting to provide certified nursing aid (CNA) certification courses and quality, hands-on training for aspiring CNA’s in San Angelo, Baptist Retirement Community (BRC), a continuing care retirement community in the Concho Valley, is partnering with Workforce Solutions to provide these educational opportunities three to four times a year. The pass-rate for these classes is exceptional, as every student has graduated. In recognition of the community’s efforts, BRC was nominated for the “Local Employer Service Award” and for “Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) 2019 Small Employer of the Year.” Mary Jackson, director of human resources for Baptist Retirement Community, has facilitated the relationship throughout her career of more than two decades.

 

“Providing these classes gives us the opportunity to offer quality training to those interested in pursuing careers in the medical field, and many of our students use this as a stepping-stone to get into nursing programs,” said Jackson. “The classes also give us the opportunity to let students know of open positions within our organization, and we hire approximately one-third of the students that go through each class. Even if they choose to work someplace else after receiving their certification, we hope that they might be inclined to join our team in the future. Through the clinicals and learning environment, we enjoy showing students how positive and supportive the work environment and team at Baptist Retirement Community is.”

 

The second course wrapped up in June, and the third course began on August 5. The courses are three weeks long and cover classroom and lab skills from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the first two weeks, followed by clinicals in the third week. Clinicals consist of three 12-hour days of hands-on experience shadowing CNA’s and serving residents in different capacities. The program is made possible by the Texas Talent Connection Grant. Baptist Retirement Community contributes by providing the space and instructor(s) for the course. Workforce Solutions has a team member who is dedicated to recruiting students before the courses start. One of the community’s recent new hires, Kevin Lord, learned of the opportunity through Workforce Solutions, completed his training in June and started his first day at BRC on July 1.

 

“My family has served in the medical field for a long time, and I was ready to try it out after working in the mechanic field for 10 years,” said Lord. “I was not sure where I was going to apply after getting my certification, but I ultimately fell in love with the work environment and residents at Baptist Retirement Community. The team at BRC is supportive and friendly. Everyone loves their job and walks around with smiles on their faces. During my clinicals, I got to interact with residents and found that their personalities are amazing. The three I worked hands-on with are the main reason I chose to work at BRC. Seeing the compassion that the team had for these residents also made me want to be a part of the team. It is a unique work environment that I did not want to pass up. I knew I wanted to work alongside these health care professionals every day and be here for these residents. I value delivering care with the dignity and respect these residents deserve. I am grateful for the CNA certification course, because without it, I would not have gotten my training and learned of what awaited me at Baptist Retirement Community.”

 

“All of the students are very appreciative and feel the course adequately prepares them for their new role as a CNA,” said Jackson. “We have done several projects with Workforce Solutions over the years, and we greatly appreciate the partnership. Overall, working with Workforce Solutions is positive and supportive. We bounce ideas back and forth to come up with amazing opportunities that enhance people’s lives. Our goals are to provide quality training that helps people gain experience and get back into the workforce. We are both willing to try new things, and it is very rewarding to do so.”

 

Baptist Retirement Community also offers a summer intern program where they take in four students and teach them skills pertaining to maintenance, housekeeping, life enrichment activities for residents and clerical/admin. The senior living community also offers positions to people who need to gain experience in a certain area or have been out of the workforce for a while.

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Baptist Retirement Community (BRC), a continuing care retirement community in the Concho Valley, is remodeling various aspects of the 100-acre community including the therapy gym. Wanting to make the therapy gym more accessible to residents, BRC has relocated the gym to the Sagecrest Alzheimer’s Care Center in a space that is centrally located amongst the community’s healthcare entities and has newer finishes. Baptist Retirement Community conducts physical, occupational and speech therapy in the gym, and the new space is conducive to a personalized therapy experience. Frances Forehand, a resident of Baptist Retirement Community, began her therapy in the old space and concluded her treatment in the new space.

 

“I was in physical therapy for three weeks after a back surgery I had on Valentine’s Day,” said Forehand. “Before my surgery, my legs were in so much pain I avoided using them at all costs. When the therapy started, the goal was to remove the pain in my legs and to get their range of motion and strength in a better place. The therapy team worked with me while I did a variety of leg and arm exercises, including leg lifts. Now, I am pain free and continuing to do the prescribed exercises at home. I am working toward my current goal, which is to walk a mile. I am taking baby steps toward meeting that goal by walking through the halls of the Henley-Mabee high-rise each day to build stamina and strength.”

 

Forehand says she feels rejuvenated and positive, claiming her body is less stiff. She highly recommends therapy and enjoyed using the new gym space due to its location and updated aesthetics.

 

“Frances is approaching her recovery with the right frame of mind and goals,” said Cisco Garcia, director of therapy for Baptist Retirement Community. “It’s important to stay active, whether you just had surgery or not. I like to say that ‘sitting is the new smoking.’ It’s just as bad for your health. Physical activity could be something as simple as walking, as mindful as yoga or as even as easy as standing for intervals throughout the day. We have to keep our brains engaged through physical exercise and keep our bodies moving. If something doesn’t feel right, see your doctor. On occasion, certain pain can be eliminated with physical therapy versus taking medications like pain killers.”

 

Garcia has been a part of the BRC therapy team for the last 11 years and was promoted to his current position eight months ago.  He enjoys leading the therapy team at the senior living community because he likes to give patients and residents an opportunity, regardless of their injury or diagnosis. This opportunity instills hope, and he likes being a source of encouragement along the way.

 

“In my tenure, I have seen a gentleman suffer a stroke, and after various therapies he returned to the volunteerism he cherished – preaching to the military and fire department,” said Garcia. “He was in his 70s, so that was quite a feat. Another woman had a severe shoulder injury. She sought rehabilitation services first but ended up having to have a major shoulder replacement. She received therapy at home and came to us for outpatient services. She stuck to the program that was prescribed and regained arm movement. She is confident she made the right choice to continue with the physical therapy. It is rewarding to be a part of their journey and see them be successful in regaining control of their bodies.”

 

“We are always looking for ways to enhance the services and amenities offered to our residents,” said Aaron Hargett, executive director of Baptist Retirement Community. “Relocating the physical therapy gym was a need we were happy to fill, as it’s more accessible to everyone in the community, including skilled nursing residents in The Cottages who are now only approximately 100 feet away.”

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Baptist Retirement Community (BRC) has been serving seniors in the Concho Valley area for nearly 70 years, adding new residences, models of care, amenities and services along the way to meet the ever-changing needs of its residents. The continuing care retirement community is delighted to announce that it is undergoing several positive changes in 2019, in order to modernize various aspects of the 100-acre community. It is estimated that the renovations will be completed later this year in August.

 

“We pride ourselves on offering excellence in senior living and inspiring happiness,” said Aaron Hargett, executive director of Baptist Retirement Community. “This renovation project will give our campus a rejuvenating facelift that will enhance the aesthetics and make it more functional for those who live in, work at and visit the community. Many of the updates are occurring within the Henley Mabee high-rise which was built in the 1980s. We are excited for the high-rise to become an up-to-date and vibrant space within our campus to support the energy and lifestyle of those who live there.”

 

Renovations to the high-rise include new carpeting, wall coverings, artwork, furnishings and signage in the common areas and corridors. The Main Street Café, beauty salon, meeting area and game room will be enriched with fresh designs to make them aesthetically pleasing to several generations of seniors. Plans also include moving the fitness center to a more spacious location on the fifth floor, redesigning the east lobby for resident use, adding more public restrooms to the first floor, relocating the gift shop to the west lobby for easier access and the addition of a new, larger private dining room.

 

“These changes are positive and necessary in order to continue adapting to seniors’ expectations, desires and needs,” said Hargett. “We are in a transitional phase as we take some of our community’s traditional designs and seek to modernize them. In addition to the high-rise, there are renovations occurring at the Sagecrest Alzheimer’s Care Center. We are remodeling the showers so they feel more like a shower space you would find in a typical home versus one you might expect to find in a medical institution. We are designing a new therapy suite for inpatient and outpatient therapies. The Sagecrest kitchen is also undergoing changes to increase its service capacity, and we are upgrading the campus streets and signage.”

 

In addition to the renovations, skilled nursing residents are being integrated into The Cottage Homes. These two homes offer a model of care that focuses on individualized plans of care in an intimate environment that is evocative of a typical family home.

 

“We are thrilled that so many wonderful changes are underway at Baptist Retirement Community,” said Hargett. “Everyone is eagerly awaiting the completion of the beautification project, as they cannot wait to enjoy all the new aspects of their community and home. August cannot get here fast enough.”

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An amazing first-ever partnership between physical therapy students at Angelo State University (ASU) and members of Baptist Retirement Community (BRC) is helping seniors prevent falls and improve balance. As part of the Neuromuscular Examination and Management course, students led a Balance and Fall Risk Reduction Program for seniors living at BRC. At the start of the program, students assessed the seniors to determine their level of activity and physical capabilities to rank each participant’s fall risk as low, moderate or high. In response to their findings, the students selected exercises, games and activities that the seniors could do together as a group to work on balance and ultimately prevent falls. They led a total of eight sessions and concluded with a final assessment to determine improvement levels since the start of the program. Originally, BRC anticipated 15 members would partake, however, nearly 50 members have been actively involved.  

 

“We were thrilled to see the level of participation at the community. This program greatly benefited the students, as they took balance assessment skills learned in the classroom and applied them in a real-life setting to positively impact the lives of high-functioning seniors,” said Carolyn Mason, PT, PhD, Angelo State University physical therapy professor and PT Program Director. “For some students, this was their first time working with seniors in independent living, as many have only worked with seniors in acute care. Some of the challenges included completing obstacle courses, working on forward and backward movements, transitioning from sitting to standing or vice versa, balloon and ball toss games and other physical activities. Sometimes students incorporated a cognitive challenge as well.”

 

Throughout the program, the students made modifications for those with varied physical capabilities and even changed activities that did not create a challenge or work as intended. At the close of the program, the students tested the seniors to document any changes such as balance improvement or a decrease in a senior’s fall risk level.

 

“We really enjoyed this hands-on experience, as it is always different to take what we learn on paper and apply it to real-life situations,” said Barton “Buck” Schroeter, a student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at ASU. “We collaborated as a team to present a variety of exercises that help with balance and fall prevention. We used yoga balls, chairs and floormats and created games inspired by those who attended. For example, one member is from Canada, so we customized a hockey-style activity using a fun noodle for the stick and a balloon for the puck. Our goal was to show that balance and fall prevention don’t have to be a series of prescribed exercises, they can also involve fun and games. We tried to come up with something new every time we visited and were constantly modifying activities on the fly to accommodate for varying levels of physical capabilities. Baptist Retirement Community already offers many programs that help with balance as well, so we are pushing participants to get involved with classes like Tai Chi to continue these efforts. In addition, we gave them exercises to do at home as well.”

 

These students are in their third year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at ASU and will graduate in May. This course is offered once a year, and ASU and BRC will meet to discuss the possibility of partnering again next year. Though the decision has not been made yet, there is a strong possibility they will partner again based off the success of this year’s program. ASU and BRC also have partnerships for Nursing students and clinical practicum as part of physical therapy training.

 

“The feedback we received from BRC members, faculty and the university is extremely positive,” said Aaron Hargett, executive director of Baptist Retirement Community. “The turnout alone is enough reason for us to create another partnership like this one in the near future. We are excited to collaborate with the university on future efforts. It is amazing to see the students and seniors having so much fun during a time designed to improve their lives by decreasing their risk for falls and improving their balance.”  

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Imagine a job that is so rewarding, you decide to do it for more than 30 years and continue doing it to this day. Little did Sally Lugo know she would still be serving seniors at Baptist Retirement Community at this point in her life, but once she found her calling she didn’t want to pursue any other kind of work. Roughly 35 years ago, Lugo joined the senior living community as an aid and later applied for a position working in transportation services when one opened up. Initially, she took the position because the schedule was accommodating for her small children. Now, several years later, her children are all grown up, and Lugo is still driving members to and from their medical appointments because of the sheer joy it brings her interacting with and serving the members each day.

 

“The members I serve are extremely grateful for the services we provide to them, as a lot of other places don’t offer transportation services to and from medical appointments,” said Lugo. “We even have scheduled trips to local supermarkets and grocery stores, as well as regularly planned outings they can sign up for, though I drive strictly for medical purposes. It alleviates so much stress for them and for their families, as they do not have to worry about planning to get to and from doctor visits, therapy sessions and other medical related appointments. We will even drop off their prescriptions at the pharmacy within Baptist Retirement Community, and once it is filled, the pharmacy will have it delivered to the member. Sometimes, members may not always get good news or the news they were hoping to hear at these visits, so I always try to have a genuine smile on my face and create a pleasant experience for them. I want their time with me to be positive, and I let members know that if they need someone to talk to or simply someone to listen to them, I am here.”

 

Lugo said the members she serves have quite a sense of humor and are very fun to be around. During rides, they will jokingly ask her if she will stop so they can get a tattoo, go to happy hour or on some other silly venture. She said it feels as though she is visiting with her grandparents, and she values the connections she has made. She makes a point to get to know each of them on an individual basis, learning their likes and dislikes, asking about their lives, listening to their stories, inquiring about where they are from, if they have children, what they did before, what brought them here and any hobbies they enjoy.

 

“We have so much to learn from them,” said Lugo. “Looking back, if I had known what I know now, I would have started a journal and kept notes of all the interesting, funny and insightful things they have shared with me. The last 35 years have been incredibly rewarding. I understand the members better and I feel purposeful in what I am doing to make their lives a little easier. Many are happy because of the simplicity of having everything they need within our 100-acre campus and because the services are delivered by people such as myself – people who have found a calling to serve these members and their families and take great pride and care in what they do. Many people here have a passion for giving and helping. It is a wonderful culture to be a part of.”

 

Lugo says Baptist Retirement Community is a cheerful community full of employees and members who enjoy life and the simple things. She said it operates like one big family, everyone looking out for one another and supporting each other.

 

“I have served generations of families during my tenure, and the members have commented that I never change,” said Lugo. “I tell them I look the same and always have a smile on my face because of them. Being around the members makes me feel more alive, and I feel younger. They make my day, and hopefully I contribute positively to theirs as well.”

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“You catch ‘em we cook ‘em!” is the slogan of the annual Baptist Retirement Community Fishing Extravaganza which took place on April 27. The free event is exclusively for residents, staff and their families, and took place at the Sagecrest Alzheimer’s Care Center & The Green House Homes at Sagecrest Courtyard, part of the Baptist Retirement Community (BRC) campus. Area chefs volunteered to fry the freshly caught fish. A special guest from the San Angelo Symphony performed music throughout the event. Baptist Retirement Community is incredibly grateful for all the volunteers who came together to make this event possible, because without them the event would not happen each year. BRC residents Edwin and Pat Forehand have been volunteering with the event since its inception eight years ago. Bridget Hinrichs, life enrichment coordinator at Sagecrest and the Green House Homes, started the event during her first year at BRC.

 

“April is celebrated as National Volunteer Month, and this event is the perfect example of what a huge difference volunteers can make in the lives of others,” said Hinrichs. “If we didn’t have the volunteers, we could not put this event on. This is a big event and we need all the help we can get. The Fishing Extravaganza is such a meaningful event, as it brings families together to create new memories. Some residents haven’t fished in 30 to 50 years, and others forget they knew how to fish until we put a rod in their hands. Once they get started, it’s really hard for them stop. We have some people who just keep fishing even though lunch is being served. They would rather enjoy their favorite pastime than eat. The event has grown every year since its start, and my hope is that one day it is as big as the local Spring Chicken Affair.”

 

Attendees fished from four large tanks full of catfish, and their catch was immediately cooked by the many volunteers from various organizations who dedicate their time and energy to making this event a success. Additional lunch options included hamburgers, homemade onion rings, hushpuppies, beans, coleslaw, and cobbler among other offerings. The fish are brought in from a gentleman who travels 24 hours by road with a truckload of two- to three-pound catfish that measure 21 inches long on average. The first year the Forehands volunteered, they signed up to help take the fish off the hooks, weigh them and measure them. Now, they volunteer to help put the worms on the hooks to bait them for fellow residents.

 

“I’ve been going fishing since I was a little girl,” said Pat Forehand. “The first time I went with my father he told me I would have to put my own worm on my hook if I wanted to go fishing with him, so I got used to doing that early on and it doesn’t bother me. Edwin has been fishing since he was a young boy as well, and he still has all his fishing tackle in case he wants to go to the river in town to fish. The Fishing Extravaganza brings back memories of all the times we used to go fishing, and I really enjoy watching other people reminisce with their family and friends during the event. It is a good feeling knowing that I am helping make this event possible, and it is lovely to see someone else enjoy an outing that they would otherwise not be able to do. Bridget does a wonderful job keeping residents living in Sagecrest and the Green House Homes entertained. You can tell she loves serving them and that it isn’t just a job for her.”

 

The couple moved to BRC 11 years ago in March and has been volunteering around BRC for several years. Edwin Forehand volunteers every Thursday afternoon to work an office desk where he cashes checks for residents and sells stamps. Pat Forehand volunteers to work a shift at the thrift shop every Monday morning and also devotes time to helping Hinrichs with arts and crafts for memory care residents on Thursday afternoons.

 

“Pat and I enjoy volunteer work because it keeps us young,” said Edwin Forehand. “I like to put myself in someone else’s shoes and think about how I would like to be treated or think about what might make my day brighter. The fishing event is really different, and you wouldn’t think everyone would get so into it, but boy does everyone get excited. It’s just good, old-fashioned relaxing fun. We love being a part of it.”

 

“This event is significant to me because of the joy that it brings to residents and their families,” said Hinrichs. “My job is make our residents’ time with us as meaningful as possible, and it’s not only my job to serve them, it’s my passion. I look out and see everyone enjoying the day without a care in the world, making new memories, laughing like little kids as they catch the fish. It’s so wonderful to see everyone so excited and to see those who are eager to earn their bragging rights. Even though the residents I work with live with memory impairments, they will still be talking about this event the next day. It’s our favorite event of the year!”

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The San Angelo Chamber Singers recently made a difference in the lives of seniors by donating money to senior residents of Sagecrest Alzheimer’s Care Center located on the Baptist Retirement Community campus. The vocalists raised $2,500 during their annual Fall Concert and presented cash and checks to the community to purchase oversized, fluffy and luxurious towels for the residents.

 

“We purchased the towels shortly after receiving the donation, and the residents admired the mounds of new towels when they were delivered. You should have seen the smiles on their faces,” said Sheila Knox, administrator of Sagecrest Alzheimer’s Care Center and The Green House Homes®. “While luxurious towels might seem like an interesting expenditure, they serve a very special purpose. Bathing is a difficult routine for many residents living with memory impairments, as they are often confused and may not enjoy having people help them. To make this a more positive experience, we provided them with large, fluffy bath towels that are similar to towels they likely used at home. We look for big and small ways to enhance the lives of our residents, and these towels make a big difference.”

 

The San Angelo Chamber Singers was founded in the fall of 2009 by three people: Dr. Kevin Lambert, Dr. Louellen Meyer and Jan Call. Now the group is comprised of 24 singers who perform two concerts a year, during which they raise money for a local cause. No one in the group is paid, and the group covers any expenses incurred, such as the printing of programs. Sonrisas, which provides a therapeutic horse riding program to the community, was the first group the singers supported through fundraising. They typically perform in churches for free. They rehearse on Sundays from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for 10 weeks leading up to the concert.

 

“At the first rehearsal, we will all sit down and discuss who we should honor with a donation,” said Dr. Lambert. “When I was looking for music for this particular performance, I discovered a beautiful piece called ‘When Memory Fades’ composed by Eric Nelson and with words by Dr. Mary Louise Bringle. This deeply moving piece focuses on an individual living with Alzheimer’s and how this person is not forgotten. We also played two songs by 20th-century composer Aaron Copland, who spent the last 10 years of his life living with the disease. We then learned that November is recognized as National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, so we felt a calling to give back to a nonprofit that serves those living with memory impairments. This cause is very close to our hearts, as my mother is living with Alzheimer’s and several people in the group have known or know someone with the disease. The first day we rehearsed the song When Memory Fades, a member of our choir lost a family member who was living with the disease as well.”

 

Several people in the audience were emotionally moved by the concert because they too knew of someone who suffered from the disease. After the show, a member of the audience told Lambert that the song “When Memory Fades” helped him understand the disease, as his father passed away 20 years ago after battling Alzheimer’s.

 

“It gives us so much joy to pay tribute to those who lived with Alzheimer’s and to join together and help out people in the community who are currently living with the disease,” said Lambert. “Our last performance was at Holy Angels Catholic Church, a venue that hosted us several times. They have beautiful acoustics, and we are grateful for the opportunity to perform there. After the concerts we have a party and count all the money, then we take the donations to the nonprofits, usually the next day.  Usually nonprofits have to work very hard to raise money, and they face limitations regarding how they can spend the funds. It gives us great pleasure to walk in and hand them cash to help meet their needs.”

 

The next concert will be held in the spring on April 15 at Holy Angels Catholic Church. The recipient is yet to be determined. Rehearsals will begin on Sunday, January 14.

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Baptist Retirement Community is delighted to announce Aaron Hargett as the new executive director of the senior living community. Charlie Wilson, senior vice president of Buckner Retirement Services, made the announcement. Hargett has been with the senior living community since 2007 and was recently promoted from the position of director of independent living. In his new role as executive director, Hargett will be responsible for overseeing the 100-acre community’s operations, administration, programs and strategic planning. He will also manage marketing, community outreach and financial planning. Hargett’s goal is to enrich the lives of the seniors who live in the community or use its services.

 

“I am thrilled to bring Aaron onto our executive leadership team,” said Wilson. “Over the last 10 years we’ve seen that he is servant-hearted, passion-driven and more than capable of managing such a large community. There’s really no one better for the job.”

 

Hargett is originally from the area, and he graduated from Angelo State University with a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He has worked in the health care industry for nearly 20 years, covering a variety of areas including admissions and discharge planning, rehabilitation, home health, hospice, and independent living.

 

“Baptist Retirement Community offers more senior living options and opportunities for life enrichment than anywhere else in the area, and I feel privileged to lead the community and its team toward continued success,” said Hargett. “The staff and residents here at Baptist Retirement are like family, and I’m grateful to be part of their lives and look forward to continuing our legacy as San Angelo’s leading senior living provider.”